Shot! The Brighton Tattoo Convention 2024
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Britain’s best showcase for lovers of inked skin, once again drew the crowds to the South Coast.
I’ve been coming to the BTC for most of its 15 years from when it occupied the spaces under the Brighton Racecourse grandstands, through its move to the much bigger Metropole Hotel and for the past few years, at its new home, the Brighton Centre, the city’s biggest venue where it hosts over 500 artists and traders and attracts thousands of ink afficianados over two days.
As a canvas of personal expression, tattoos have always been more than just ink on skin. For many, they are a reflection of their individuality and a deeply personal experience. For others, it’s just about adorning themselves with a piece of art. Whatever the reason for getting inked, the world of tattoos is no longer the domain of men.
The growth of the show has reflected the enormous global rise in the popularity of tattoos. Forbes recently reported almost one-third of American adults are now permanently inked and that women are more likely to have tattoos than men.
As the Brighton show has grown, its audience has also reflected this change. Not for the first time, young women dominated the show floor. Not only were there more women artists than men, there were more women being tattooed and walking around the convention than ever before.
Perhaps, this explains the growing trend towards more subtle, more delicate tattoos, designs that benefit from a woman’s touch.
The people behind the convention have also come a long way. The event is as well-organised as any held at the seafront venue and their mastery of branding is better than any event I’ve been to there. Eyecatching banners, adorned the lampposts, and filled the venue’s street level windows.
The only visual disconnect was the words Brighton Tattoo Convention were different from the event logo which changes each year. 2024’s was one of the better iterations, although some might say it wasn’t especially legible.
I’d have also liked to see the branding continue on the inside, but sadly there was none to be seen anywhere in what one can only describe as being a blank, characterless space. One change I think I’m right in pointing out was that many of the booths were clad in red felt which really popped compared with the grey and black of previous years.
But it was not all positives. Despite all the people, I felt a distinct lack of buzz this year. That’s partly to do with the transformation to quieter wireless tattoo machines, which don’t make anywhere near the distinctive noise of their bulkier predecessors. All I know, is the event needed more atmosphere — something a DJ or some live musicians would have helped contribute.
That being said, that’s just my opinion and one the organisers clearly don’t share as this year there seemed to be a move away from adding new, non-tattoo features. Tattoos are of course the reason people come to the show, but I have to say I was disappointed with those that I got to see, either being done or on those walking around.
I can’t recall a previous year when there were so few inkings that caught my eye. Yes, with so many people, it’s easy to miss and of course it’s entirely subjective. I was hoping to see some truly outstanding work, but I have to be honest when I say there was only one piece that really stood out to me: an absolutely stunning backpiece adorning tattoo artist Stephanie Melbourne. It was both beautifully inked and unusual in its composition. I found out later it was the work of Nick Imms.
As a photographer, I’m also seeking out the weird and the wonderful, the bizarre and the beautiful, but despite hours of walking around, I didn’t spot anyone who came close to some of the eyecatching people I’d seen and photographed in the past. Not a single one. And that’s a first for me.
In their absence I focused on getting candid portraits of those who stood out for their striking looks. In particular, two women caught my attention, musician and model, Harpy and Manchester tattoo artist Maddie Asher. Not only were both of them extremely photogenic, but together they epitomised the changing face of tattoo conventions.
Speaking of which, the organisers of this event have announced a brand new show — Tattoo Expo UK — which will debut at Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, this October and aims to attract 350 artists from around the world.
Behind the shot: These images were taken handheld using the Olympus OM-D E-M1 with the M Zuiko 1.8 75mm lens and the camera’s built-in digital zoom. All shots were taken with available light only. One of the challenges of photographing tattoo conventions is getting ‘clean’ shots as artist booths are very small and crowded with paraphanalia and, for the most part, the artists themselves are busy working, either with their backs to you or their faces looking down at what they’re tattooing. And while I left frustrated that I didn’t find what I was looking for this year, I was pleased I at least came away with a handful of memorable portraits. Indeed, my candid of Harpy has to be one of the very best portraits I’ve taken at the event. Photographed in Brighton on 24 February 2024
About the author: Based in Sussex-by-the-Sea, on England’s south coast, Gary is a creative writer and image-maker. He specialises in creating out of the ordinary portraits of musicians and people with interesting faces, as well as photographing some of the world’s finest flowers and gardens, not forgetting an array of automotive exotica.
On the writing side, he has used his research skills to author deep dives into some noteworthy songs beginning with Bryan Ferry’s ‘These Foolish Things’ ‘Ghost Town’ by The Specials, ‘Real Wild Child’ by Ivan and ‘All The Young Dudes’ by Mott the Hoople.
He has also written a biography of Robert Palmer and the stories behind Whitesnake’s blatant Led Zep rip-off, ‘Still Of The Night’, Harry Styles’ anthem to positivity, ‘Treat People With Kindness’ and the little known Queen track ‘Cool Cat.’
Most recently, Gary has penned the fascinating story behind George Orwell’s dystopian novel ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ as well as ‘Believe It Or Not’ a look into the rise of fake news and his latest essay ‘Nadir: How the cost of living crisis has brought so many in broken Britain to the depths of despair.’
All these can be found here on Medium, along with his reviews of gigs and events and chats with musicians including the likes of Royal Blood, Joe Satriani and Wolf Alice.
